Rupert's friend Gregory has a new hobby: practical jokes. He likes his new joke book so much, he decides to check out the author's joke shop in the nearby town of Appleton. It's a good thing Rupert decides to go with him, because when they arrive, it's clear something is very off about Appleton. The boys quickly discover the town has the oddest Dystopian Edict they've ever heard of: having a sense of humor (telling any jokes, playing any pranks, laughing, etc.) is against the law.
After they get thrown out of town, the boys are found by the mysterious former joke shop owner: A. Fool. Yep, the April Fool himself ("Who do you think they named the day after?"). Their excitement, however, doesn't last for long, as they slowly start to realize exactly what made the people of Appleton hate jokes so much...
First appearance of Gregory Guinea Pig.
This episode provides examples of:
- Ambiguous Syntax: Rupert reads a riddle and exclaims, "It's a riddle." Gregory asks for the answer, and he clarifies, "A riddle — a riddle is the answer to the riddle." ("When first I appear, I seem mysterious/But when I'm explained, I'm nothing serious.")
- An Aesop:
- Playing pranks is a lot more fun than being pranked.
- All things in moderation — one extreme is just as bad as the opposite.
- April Fools' Plot: It's not mentioned if it takes place on April Fool's Day or not but fits thematically and would be perfect to show on the holiday.
- The Atoner: April Fool becomes this in the end, wanting to make things up to the people of Appleton by genuinely making them laugh instead of torturing them with endless pranks.
- Bizarrchitecture: The design of many rooms in April Fool's house seems to defy the laws of physics.
- Cash Lure: The episode starts with Rupert finding one of these.
- Deus ex Machina: It's a complete accident that April Fool stumbles into his own trap and gets a taste of his own medicine, causing him to realize he takes things too far. However, his response was to give up in despair; while Rupert and Gregory did't teach him to change his ways, they are responsible for mending things between him and Appleton so everyone can have a happy ending instead.
- Dystopian Edict: Town of Appleton Bylaw 362-7.
- "Everybody Laughs" Ending
- Fiction Is Not Fair: A locality might be able to get a law like 362-7 on the books, but you still can't just throw minors in jail without due process or contacting their parents.
- Gender-Blender Name: April Fool is male.
- Guile Hero: Rupert teaches Gregory the ropes when he tricks the April Fool into revealing himself in the maze because he can't resist laughing at any joke.
- Hall of Mirrors: April Fool's house contains a room with funhouse mirrors.
- Hedge Maze: April Fool's house is surrounded by one.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: April Fool accidentally falls into his own Rube Goldberg Device, which makes him realize how it feels to be pranked over and over and over and over again.
- Hurricane of Puns: April Fool, naturally, speaks in these.
- Ironic Name: Curly O'Hara is as bald as a cue ball.
- Lack of Empathy: It truly never occurred to April Fool before now that the victims of his constant traps and pranks weren’t having as much fun as he was.
- Layman's Terms: Constable Curly recites each specific offense under 362-7. Rupert successfully summarizes it as "it's against the law to have a sense of humor."
- Milholland Relationship Moment: Gregory tries to run when he realizes Rupert is the one who fell for his Cash Lure trick, expecting his friend to be mad, but Rupert finds it very funny.
- Misblamed: Rupert assumes Bill is the one secretly pranking him in the beginning.
- My God, What Have I Done?: April Fool has this reaction when he realizes Appleton outlawed humor because of him not knowing when enough is enough.
- No Antagonist: Cleverly played — at first, it looks like the adults of Appleton are the villains for outlawing humor. Then, it looks like April Fool is a villain for not knowing when to stop with the jokes and stopping the boys from leaving. Ultimately, though, neither side is "evil," per se, and both sides learn they need to change and do so, allowing them to get along. Like in many rifts Rupert mends, neither side is "the bad guy."
- Officer O'Hara: Granted, they are in Britain, so not out of place.
- Pie in the Face: Used liberally and repeatedly.
- Prank Gone Too Far: The theme of the episode.
- Projectile Toast: April Fool bombards the boys with lots of different food, including this.
- Rage Breaking Point: April Fool manages to push the ultimate Nice Guy Rupert Bear past his. Rupert gives him a genuine Death Glare while whispering, "I think I've had enough."
- Riddle Me This: The plot is full of riddles, many of which you have to answer to proceed to the next step somewhere.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Gregory's tiny "Oh, no..." when April Fool first whips out two pies...
- Town with a Dark Secret: Appleton is either straight example or a subversion depending on your definition of "dark." They certainly see their secret as "dark," but an outsider would find their attitude about it to be just as dark.
- Trap Door: April Fool drops Rupert and Gregory through 2 at one point.
- Whole-Plot Reference: replace humor with dancing, and you have Footloose.
